Lunch Money

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Clements, Andrew. 2005. Lunch Money. Ill. by Brian Selznick. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Greg Kenton loves money; he loves to make it, he loves to spend it, and he loves to save it. By the age of eleven he had more than three thousand dollars in the bank. Greg soon comes up with a plan to make even more money, sell comic books at school. These aren’t just any comic books, these are books he wrote, drew, and published himself. He soon discovers he has competition, his arch nemesis, Maura Shaw. She too is selling comic books and the competition is on. Though their rivalry turns bloody, they must learn to work together or both of them will be out of business.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

A coming of age story about two enemies that have to learn to work together is the underlying theme of the novel, Lunch Money by Andrew Clements. Accompanied by black and white sketches to illustrate a point or enhance the plot, the book is full of life lessons for young students trying to find their way in the world. Laced with humor, Clements forces readers to ponder questions about the value of money and the cost of success in life. As the characters learn the importance of friends over wealth, readers who also face the same obstacles gain valuable insight. Readers will also recognize characteristics of people they know from their own life, especially in middle school. Lunch Money will make readers smile and root for Greg and Maura.

AWARDS AND REVIEW:

Bank Street Best Books of the Year
CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
Garden State Children's Book Award (NJ Library Association) (Categories: Easy to Read, Easy to Read Series, Non-Fiction, Fiction) (four categories, four winners)
KSRC Intermediate Titles - TOP PICK
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee

School Library Journal:
Grade 4-6–Sixth-grader Greg Kenton has always had a talent for making money. His latest scheme, creating and selling miniature comic books, looks to be a success. However, problems arise when his classmate and longtime nemesis, Maura, competes with him by making her own mini-stories. Even worse, the principal, who believes that comic books are nasty and violent, bans their sale at school. Clements has created another clever, enterprising young protagonist in Greg, who, like Nick in Frindle (S & S, 1996), also finds inconsistencies in his school's regulations and works toward change. While his intentions at the beginning are purely entrepreneurial, his outlook on money transforms to the philanthropic as he fights for the right to sell his Chunky Comics to his fellow students. Also, his relationship with Maura takes a new turn as the two enemies pool their talents and find a way to get along. The characters are rich with interesting quirks and motivations, including Mr. Z, a blood-phobic math teacher. Along with providing a fast-paced and humorous story line, the author examines concepts of true wealth, teamwork, community mindedness, and the value of creative expression. Selznick's pencil sketches add comic touches throughout.–Carol L. MacKay, Camrose Public Library, Alberta, Canada
Review:
"This hits the jackpot." -- Kirkus Reviews